Margarine package



8- 1964 R. K. FRITSCHE 3,144,343

' MARGARINE PACKAGE Filed March 2, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR R/CHARD K. FR/TSCHE BY M ATTORNEY 11, 1964 R. K. FRITSCHE 3-, I44Q343 MARGARINE PACKAGE I INVENTOR P/CHARD K FAI TSCHE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 F led M h 2 1961 ATTORNEY R. K. FRITSCHE MARGARINE PACKAGE Aug. 1 1, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 2, 1961 FIG. 6

INVENTOR lQ/CHARD K FR/TSCHE BYM Was ATTORNEY Aug. 11, 1964 R. K. FRITSCHE MARGARINE PACKAGE Filed March 2, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR R/O /ARD K Fk/ 7567/1 ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,144,343 MARGARINE PACKAGE Richard K. Fritsche, Fort Thomas, Ky., assignor to The Miami Margarine Company, Cincinnati, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Filed Mar. 2, 1961, Ser. No. 92,979 4 Claims. (Cl. 99-179) The present application relates to an amorphous and non-amorphous table use food package; the amorphous type products to be packaged being margarine, butter, or the like; and the non-amorphous products to be packaged being jelly, gelatin, peanut butter, proteinaceous foods, and the like, such package when containing any of these products or the like to be in severable segments.

For example, in conventional butter or margarine packaging machinery the reciprocating principle is utilized for molding and cartoning the product. As a result, the rate of packaging production, as well as the configuration of the package are limited. Such packaging machinery does not take advantage of the Natural Flow characteristics of margarine through sanitary type piping. Furthermore, in the case of margarine a mold is required to shape the product. Thus, different packaging machines are required for production of those styles accepted by the consumer, for example one-quater pound Eastern style, onequarter pound Western style, one pound Elgin style and one-half pound Country Roll. Also, due to the characteristic softness of margarine, blended from the currently popular poly-unsaturated fatty acid (anti-cholesterol) oils difiiculty is encountered in cartoning and printing with reciprocating type machinery.

According to the present invention, the margarine is filled from a margarine votator directly into a preformed package, embodying individual concave segments which are configured in whatever style may be desired. For example, the end package may be comprised of opposed one-eighth pound, one-quarter pound or larger concave segments, each opposed pair of segments defining margarine food compartment. One or both of the opposed segments may be embossed Witha brand name. These food compartments may be placed in side-by-side spaced relationship and secured by means of cut-out frames being placed over the top, bottom, and/or top and bottom of the food compartments, said frames being bonded by heat sealing, gluing, using pressure sensitive media, or similar means. .The consumer may independently separate the food compartments from the package and, of course, packaging production is considerably expedited. In one modification of invention the opposed segments are configured to define a butter dish food compartment so that the consumer upon separating a food compartment from the package may place the butter dish directly upon the table for dining use. Other modifications of invention include variously dimensioned concave segments.

Accordingly, it is an object of invention to provide an amorphous and non-amorphous table use food package which may be filled according to the continuous line method.

Another object of invention is to provide an amorphous and non-amorphous food package embodying preformed food compartments which are individually separable from the package.

Yet another object of invention is to provide an amorphous and non-amorphous table use food package which embodies individual food compartments which are of sufficient strength to be used directly upon the dining room table.

Yet additional objects of invention will become apparent from the ensuing specification and attached drawings wherein:

3,144,343 Patented Aug. 11, 1964 FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the amorphous food package showing four one-quarter pound food compartments secured in spaced side-by-side relationship.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective according to FIG. 1, and showing how opposed pairs of concave segments, each having peripheral flanges are secured to each other and said pairs are secured in side-by-side relationship by means of overlaying top and bottom cut-out frames, which are bonded to each other.

FIG. 3 is a top plan of a cut-out frame having medial running members for securing the food compartments in spaced side-by-side relationship and, each of said running members having longitudinal perforations 24 for individualseparation of food compartments from the package and perforations 25 leading from notches 27 for ripping of the frame surrounding individual food compartments.

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of a modified frame configured as in FIG. 3, except that the perforations have been eliminated from the medial running members,

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective of food compartment of margarine dish configuration, both said opposed segments being oblately configured and the shallow segment, including a female flange which engages a corresponding male flange on the top or deeper segment. The flange design to be such that wicking of the margarine through the seam will be at an absolute minimum.

FIG. 6 is a vertical cross section of the food compartment illustrated in FIG. 5.

FIGS. 7-9 are schematics of interlocking flanges of variously configured table use compartments.

- FIG. 10 is a perspective view of modified food compartment having opening notch 27' disposed at one side of the frames and having perforations 25 leading from said notch the point of juncture of food compartment segments 14- and 16 such modification being used in packaging of gourmet foods; and

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a modified food compartment of relatively shallow configuration with notch 27 and perforations 25 also disposed at a side of the frame.

In FIG. 1 amorphous food package 10 is illustrated as embodying individual food compartments 12 which are individually comprised of opposed top segment 14 bottom segment 16. Both said top and bottom segments include at the point of their opposition peripheral flanges 18.

As illustrated in FIG. 2 the individual top and bottom segments 14 and 16 are secured together and the individual food compartments 12 are secured in spaced side- 'by-side relationship by means of top frame 20 and bottom frame 22 which include cut-outs 26 and medial running members 28. Top frame 20 and bottom frame 22 overlie the individual top and bottom segments and upon pressurization may abut each other about the periphcries 18 of the pairs of opposed segments. As illustrated in FIG. 3 medial running members 28 may embody longitudinal perforations 24 which provide for individual tearing separation of food compartments 12 from the package. However, a modified version without perforations 24 is shown in FIG. 4 whenever individual removal of the food compartment is not desirable. In all modifications there have been illustrated opening notches 27 disposed in bottom and top cut-out frames adjacent respective medial running members 28. Opening perforations 25 leading from these notches to the sides of cut-out areas 26 may be also provided to facilitate opening of the package. Manifestly, tab, tear strip and various other opening means may be provided.

The modified margarine dish package is shown illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6. In this modification top segment 14 has a deeper concavity than lower segment 16, both said segments being of an oblate configuration. Bottom section 16 embodies female flange 30 with upturned ".3 edge 32 which engages flat flange 18 of top segment 14. FIGS. 7-9 illustrate modified flange arrangements which tend to keep at a minimum working of the amorphous food contents.

Conventional plastic sheet material such as polystyrene, polyvinylchloride, polyethylene, or similar plastic may be employed in thicknesses as required for protection of the food contents. Experimentation indicates that .00075" to .0020 mil polystyrene stock may be satisfactory. Frames 22 including running members 28 may be of polyethylene or like plastic backed board and may be heat sealed to each other about the peripheral flanges of the top and bottom segments.

As presently contemplated counterpart segments are separately filled, brought to an opposed relationship, then the overlaying frames are heat sealed or otherwise bonded to one another in order to secure the individual food compartments in side-by-side relationship. As will be apparent the flanges of the individual segments may be modified or eliminated, a single overlay frame may be employed, bonding may be by means other than heat sealing and various other modifications in configuration of concave segments, overlying framing and juxtapositioning of elements may be adopted without departing from the spirit and scope of invention, as defined in the subjoined claims.

I claim:

1. A margarine package comprising a plurality of unsealed opposed pairs of concave rigid plastic segments having peripheral flanges at the point of their opposition and defining individual food compartments, margarine disposed in said compartment, said pairs of opposed segments being spaced from one another in side-by-side relationship, a top cut-out rigid supporting frame including medial running members, placed over said pairs of said segment, said top frame and medial running members abutting the top of said opposed peripheral flanges of said food compartments, a bottom cut-out rigid supporting frame, including medial running members, placed under said pairs of said segments, said bottom frame and medial running members abutting the bottom of said opposed peripheral flanges of said compartments and means bonding said top and bottom frame members.

2. A margarine package comprising a plurality of unsealed opposed pairs of concave rigid plastic segments having peripheral flanges at the point of their opposition and defining individual food compartments, margarine disposed in said compartment, said pairs of opposed flanges being spaced from one another in side-by-side relationship, a top cut-out rigid frame, including longitudinally perforated medial running members, spaced over said pairs of segments and abutting the tops of said opposed peripheral flanges of said segments, and a bottom cutout rigid frame including, longitudinally perforated medial running members, placed under said pairs of segments and abutting the bottom of said opposed peripheral flanges of said segments, said top and bottom frames being complementally configured and abutting each other about the opposed peripheral flanges of said segments, and means bonding said frames together.

3. A margarine package comprising a plurality of unsealed opposed pairs of concave segments of plastic material having a thickness in the range .00075 to .0020 mil, each of said pairs including a shallow bottom member and a deeper top member, both said bottom and top members having peripheral flanges at the point of their opposition and defining individual food compartments, margarine disposed in said compartments, said pairs of opposed segments being spaced from one another in side-by-side relationship, a top cut-out rigid frame, including medial running members placed over said pairs of segments and abutting the top of said opposed peripheral flanges of said food compartments, a bottom cut-out rigid frame, including medial running members, placed below said pairs of segments and abutting the bottom of said peripheral flanges of said food compartments, said top and bottom frames abutting each other about the peripheries of said individual food compartments and means bonding said bottom and top frames together about said food compartments.

4. A margarine package comprising a plurality of unsealed opposed pairs of individual rigid plastic food container segments having peripheral flanges at their mutual areas of opposition and defining individual food compartments, margarine disposed in said compartments, said pairs of flanged segments being spaced from one another in side-byside relationship, each constituting a complete table service dish, upper and lower flat, rigid, cut-out frames having compartment receiving apertures and including medial running members placed over said pairs of segments and abutting said opposed peripheral flanges, said frames being complementally configured and abutting each other entirely about the peripheries of said flanges, and means bonding said frames together.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

1. A MARGARINE PACKAGE COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF UNSEALED OPPOSED PAIRS OF CONCAVE RIGID PLASTIC SEGMENTS HAVING PERIPHERAL FLANGES AT THE POINT OF THEIR OPPOSITION AND DEFINING INDIVIDUAL FOOD COMPARTMENTS, MARGARINE DISPOSED IN SAID COMPARTMENT, SAID PARIS OF OPPOSED SEGMENTS BEING SAPCED FROM ONE ANOTHER IN SIDE-BY-SIDE RELATIONSHIP, A TOP CUT-OUT RIGID SUPPORTING FRAME INCLUDING MEDIAL RUNNING MEMBER,S PLACED OVER SAID PAIRS OF SAID SEGMENT, SAID TOP FRAME AND MEDIAL RUNNING MEMERS ABUTTING THE TOP OF SAID OPPOSED PERIPHERAL FLANGES OF SAID FOOD COMPARTMENTS, A BOTTOM CUT-OUT RIGID SUPPORTING FRAME, INCLUDING MEDIAL RUNNING MEMBERS, PLACED UNDER SAID PAIRS OF SAID SEGMENTS, SAID BOTTOM FRAME AND MEDIAL RUNNING MEMBERS ABUTTING THE BOTTOM OF SAID OPPOSED PERIPHERAL FLANGES OF SAID COMPARTMENTS AND MEANS BONDING SAID TOP AND BOTTONG FRAME MEMBERS. 